Archive for April, 2012

Regions step up against NCR for 2012 Palaro

(PRESS RELEASE)

Sports teams from regions all over the Philippines gear up as this year’s Palarong Pambansa draws nearer.

With less a week left before the Palaro, the teams are exposed to rigorous trainings and preparations for different sports events. Thus, the competition heats up as the regions are set to snatch the over-all championship title from the National Capital Region (NCR).

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC expresses his excitement to see for himself the skills of this year’s set of players. “This year’s Palaro promises to be very exciting since I have heard about how the regions have been preparing to dominate the games and to grab the championship from the NCR,” said Luistro.

NCR has been dominating the Palaro for several years and is now considered a traditional champion. This year, however, the Palaro is shaping up to be different. Athletes from regions all over the country are ready to pose a challenge against the perennial champion.

As the trainings intensify, arnis tournament manager Wilfredo Yap shares that “all regions are having early trainings and conducting friendly competitions to prepare their athletes.”

The regional delegations have yet to benchmark this year as to what particular sports events they will most likely win. Judging from the assessment of tournament managers of the sports events, the regions share their own forecasts as to where they will most likely excel.

Regions I, XII and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are expected to perform well in Taekwondo while Regions I and II are aiming to grab a spot in gymnastics. In volleyball, Regions I, III, VI, XII, are expected to be the major players while Regions I, II, and IV-A are presumed to dominate the swimming competition.

Regions II, III, IV-B, VI and XI will battle out to notch the crown in the baseball competition. On the other hand, regions II and VI are anticipated to compete head-to-head in football.

Regions II, VI and XI are anticipated to bid for the championship title in softball. Sepak takraw competition can be a battle between Regions IV-B and VIII.

Regions XI and XII plan to set the match for arnis championship. Regions IV-A and XI will attempt to shoot for the basketball championship. In archery, regions V and XII will both try to bag the title.

Some regions have been able to establish their names on specific sports and are determined to challenge NCR. Region I expects to win in track and field, Region XII in boxing, Region XI in tennis and badminton.

The 2012 Palarong Pambansa is brewing to be exciting and interesting as other regions prepare to wrest the crown from NCR, set new records and gain honors for their respective regions.

DepEd to train science high school teachers for K to 12

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education (DepEd) has lined up a series of trainings to further equip science high school teachers with enhanced skills and proficiency in teaching such core subjects as English, Science and Mathematics.

“This is in line with our thrust to fully prepare our teachers for the roll out of K to12 Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) which seeks to produce globally competitive and science and technology-oriented graduates,” said Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC.

DepEd partnered with the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) and the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), in training some 1,530 Grade 7 (First Year High School) teachers of English, Science, and Mathematics from science high schools nationwide. The training is under the Upgrading Program: Learning Institute for Teachers (UPLIFT) project of PSHSS.

The training will be conducted in two phases in all PSHSS campuses. The first phase will be held on May 7-11 and May 14-18, 2012, while the second phase will be held on October 24-28. Participants are likewise encouraged to complete the two phases of the training.

Luistro underlines the significance of training science high school teachers. “It is highly crucial that we raise the level of competencies of our teachers in line with the education reform that we are now pursuing.”

Teachers who will be trained shall be science high school teachers, preferably those newly hired or those who need improvement in teaching science and coming from municipalities or divisions without or with less SEI scholarship qualifiers.

DepEd regional directors are tasked to monitor and evaluate the impact of the training.

DepEd announces PSIP Pre-Qualified Bidders

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education’s Public Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) is moving closer to the bidding phase after officially pre-qualifying six out of the eight prospective bidders who submitted qualification documents last April 11, 2012. The six pre-qualified bidders are:

1.    BF Corporation-Riverbanks Development Corporation Consortium

2.    Citicore Holdings Investment, Inc.-Megawide Construction Corporation Inc.

3.    D.M. Consunji Inc.

4.    Makati Development Corporation- Fist Balfour, Inc.

5.    D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc.-DATEM, Inc.

6.    Makati Development Corporation- DDT Konstract Inc.

The PSIP is the DepEd’s first public private partnership project for education infrastructure, which will be awarded through competitive public bidding in accordance with the Build-Operate-and-Transfer (BOT) Law (RA 6957, as amended by RA7718), and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.  The first phase of the PSIP covers the design, construction and maintenance of 9,301 classrooms (including seats and toilets) in 2,204 public schools within the next 10 years under a Build-Lease-and-Transfer contract. Three contract packages are being bidded out under this first phase of the PSIP covering Regions I, III and IV-A.

On April 30, 2012, the six qualified bidders will participate in a lottery to determine the school sites where they are expected to put up their prototype structures. The assembly or construction of a sample two-storey, two classroom-building is required under the PSIP technical bid evaluation process.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Finance, the PPP Center of Philippines, REID Foundation and the Ernst and Young Consortium (the PSIP’s transaction adviser) have been working closely with the DepEd in the development of the PSIP and the bid.  The DepEd hopes to proceed with the second batch of PSIP packages as soon as a successful tender is achieved for the first bid.

K TO 12 REFORMS WILL PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION, JOBS: ANGARA’S STATEMENT OF SUPPORT

(PRESS RELEASE from Sen. Ed Angara’s office)

The proposed K to 12 reform—and the wholesale changes aimed at strengthening our educational system—is not only timely, but long overdue.

The call for educational reforms was sounded off three decades ago, back when I led the chaired the Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM) which recommended the trifocalization of the system into the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

But through the resolve of the DepEd, headed by Secretary Armin Luistro, we will finally start delivering world-class education to a larger number of Filipinos at relatively no cost to them.

We cannot afford to delay this any further. The National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB) has warned[1] that over the past decade, the number of college students who graduate each year has not increased fast enough to meet the growing needs of our population.

Fewer students are also graduating from courses related to education science, teacher training, engineering and technology—fields critical to our growth industries. We must not allow these worrisome trends to continue if we hope to provide good jobs and income to our people.

This is a significant challenge—one that cannot be achieved in just one year, or in the span of one administration. And I agree that the solution goes beyond adding two years to the education cycle.

The curriculum and teaching methods will have to be evaluated and improved accordingly to deal with the use of the mother tongue as well as meet the evolving needs of our people. Our teachers will have to be trained in novel pedagogies. The lack of school buildings and other necessary infrastructure will have to be addressed as quickly and as sustainably as possible. Cutting edge technologies, like high-speed ICTs, will have to be utilized to reach more students.

But the process of change must start now. The K to 12 reforms are a work in progress which requires our continuous dialogue and cooperation.

Let today’s launch be allow us to reverse downtrends once and for all, and propel the Filipino people to a more prosperous, competitive future.

Schools that train athletes get P500K subsidy each

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education has earmarked P8.5 million as subsidy to 17 regional schools that offer a special program in sports to fully harness the athletic prowess of students in selected public high schools. Each school is to receive P500,000 as training subsidy.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the subsidy will enable the schools to effectively deliver services to student athletes who will one day stand out in national and international competitions. “There is cost in developing world-class athletes and the schools are the natural breeding ground of grassroots talents,” added Luistro.

As specified in DepEd Order 28 s. 2012, the additional subsidy which augments the schools’ maintenance and operating expense will go to the training of teachers and administrators on relevant topics in sports. It is also intended to   procure  instructional materials, sports supplies and  athletic uniforms as well as for  student development activities such as training, workshops, participation in DepEd-approved competitions  including travel allowance of students during trainings and competitions. Moreover, it will also finance the participation of teachers in DepEd-sponsored scholarships and professional upgrading including enrolment in master’s degree program in sports.

The 17 SPS schools are Ilocos Norte National High School in Region I, Cagayan National High School (NHS) in Region 2, Victoria NHS in Region 3, Lopez National Comprehensive HS in Region 4-A, Palawan National School in Region 4-B, Camarines Sur NHS in Region 5, Iloilo NHS in Region 6, Negros Oriental NHS in Region 7, Palo NHS in Region 8, Zamboanga Sibugay NHS in Region 9, Bukidnon NHS in Region 10, Sto. Tomas NHS in Region 11, General Santos City NHS in Region 12, Bayugan National  Comprehensive HS in CARAGA, Datu Paglas NHS in Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao, Tabuk NHS in Cordillera Administrative Region, and Muntinlupa Science HS in the National Capital Region.

To ensure that the financial subsidy is rationally utilized and be recommended for its continued release, the recipient schools are directed to conduct a yearly mentoring program to other schools within the division/region which intend to implement the same sports program.  These aspiring schools will also be given access to the sports equipment and facilities in order to improve their learning outcomes.

Further, the student-beneficiaries of the sports program must continue to participate in national or international competitions.

“Because we want to develop the whole person and not just their physical talent, we require that our athlete- beneficiaries attain a mean percentage score above the national average in the National Achievement Test,” Luistro explained.

The memo also stated that schools which fail to comply with the guidelines run the risk of having the subsidy suspended.

2012 METROBANK MATH CHALLENGE NATIONAL FINALISTS NAMED

The Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) together with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) announce the schools which made it to the National Finals of the  2012 Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Challenge (MMC) to be held on April 21, 2012  at the Metrobank Plaza Auditorium in Makati City.

Out of the more than 1,200 students who competed in the regional finals nationwide, 55 students successfully advanced to the final leg of the competition. This year’s national finalists will come from 34 schools composed of 23 public and 11 private schools from as far as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said that on-going efforts of DepEd to improve the teaching of math and the sciences, thereby strengthening basic knowledge on these subjects, are reinforced by the annual staging of the Math Challenge. “We are in full support of this annual math competition because it drives our students to perform even better and raise the bar of the contest to a higher and more challenging standard,” he added.

The top schools competing for the Grade 6 Individual Competition are: North Fairview Elementary School (Quezon City); MGC New Life Christian Academy (Taguig City); BHC Educational Institution, Inc. (San Fernando City, La Union); Baguio Village Elementary School (Diffun, Quirino); Special Education Center for the Gifted (Subic Bay, Zambales); Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School (Legaspi City); Gabaldon Central School (Abuyog, Leyte); Zamboanga Chong Hua High School (Zamboanga City); General Santos City (SPED) Integrated School; and Butuan City Special Education Center.

For Grade 6 Team Competition, the competing schools are: Pasong Tamo Elementary School (Quezon City) ; St. Jude Catholic School (City of Manila); Jocelyn V. Cacas Montessori School, Inc. (Marilao, Bulacan); Lucena West I Elementary School (Lucena City); Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School (Legaspi City); Solomon Integrated School de Iloilo (Iloilo City); Mandaue School for the Arts (Mandaue City); Gabaldon Central School (Abuyog, Leyte); General Santos City (SPED) Integrated School; and Dansalan College Foundation, Inc. (Marawi City).

For the 4^th Year Individual Competition, schools competing are: Fort Bonifacio High School (Makati City); Valenzuela City Science High School; BHC Educational Institution, Inc. (San Fernando City, La Union); Sapang Palay National High School (City of San Jose Del Monte); San Pablo City Science High School; Potter’s Place School (El Nido, Palawan); Tabaco National High School (Tabaco City); Tabunan National High School (Almeria, Biliran); Tagum City National High School; and General Santos City High School.

And for the 4^th Year Team Competition, schools competing are: Baguio City National High School-Main; Philippine Cultural College (Caloocan City); Grace Christian College (Quezon City); Teodoro Hernaez National High School (Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur); De La Salle Lipa Integrated School (Lipa City); Potter’s Place School (El Nido, Palawan); Tabaco City National High School; Mandaue City Science High School; Leyte Progressive High School (Tacloban City); and Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus (Davao City).

“As early as now, we extend our congratulations to our dear students for reaching this far in the competition,” said MBFI president Aniceto Sobrepeña. “We take pride in staging this competition as it brings once again the country’s finest students,” he continued.

National winners will receive trophies, medals and cash – P25, 000 for the 1^st placer, P20,000 for the 2^nd placer and P15,000 for the 3^rd placer for the elementary level while P50,000 for the 1^st placer, P40,000 for the 2^nd placer and P30,000 for the 3^rd placer for the fourth year level amounting to a total of P540,000 worth of cash prize.

Now on its 11^th year, MMC is an annual math competition that aims to discover Mathematical talents among the youth. Previously conducted in the National Capital Region, the Metrobank Math Challenge was expanded to include elementary and high school students nationwide starting in 2001. The annual Math Challenge produces national winners who get to compete and eventually win in international competitions. Among them is Carmela S. Lao, first placer in the Individual Category for 4^th Year of the 2011 Metrobank Math Challenge, who reaped a silver medal in the 51^st International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), the first Filipina to do so and the country’s second silver medal after 20 years. Recently, the Metrobank Math Challenge was awarded with the Anvil Award of Excellence in the 47^th Anvil Awards by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP).

Bantay Eskwela goes Region-wide

(PRESS RELEASE)

Bantay Eskwela, a brainchild of Procurement Watch Inc. (PWI), empowers local stakeholders in monitoring the contract implementation of the procurement of school armchairs in seven pilot sites in Bulacan, Tagbilaran, Ilocos Norte, Quezon City, Rizal, and Davao City.

With its success, the Bantay Eskwela framework was adopted in monitoring the repair and rehabilitation of classrooms in the National Capital Region (NCR). More stakeholders were likewise mentored on the Bantay Eskwela methodology.

This was implemented in partnership with the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro said such initiative promotes transparency, accountability, and value for money in the delivery of basic education services. “We are very pleased with the assistance provided by private and civil society organizations in ensuring that our schools get their much needed resources in good quality and on time.  This is a critical measure and one that we cannot do on our own as we continue to fill up resource gaps in the public school system,” he added.

Today, Bantay Eskwela has reached another milestone. It is now being adopted by the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP) under the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) by letting the Diaspora for Good Governance (D4G2) saturate Region XI – birthplace of one of the first local Bantay Eskwela Chapters, the Bantay Eskwela Sulong Mindanao.

This new initiative will highlight the importance and success of using school-based monitors in achieving value for money and transparency using a participatory approach by monitoring the procurement of school armchairs and also school buildings.

“The volunteer participation during the first run of Bantay Eskwela in 2009 was overwhelming” explains Ms. Caroline Belisario, Project Team Leader and Executive Director of the D4G2.  “When we were implementing the first run under PWI, you could immediately see that the community volunteers embraced the opportunity to own the initiative and give back to their public school – ensuring that deliveries and quality of armchairs were at par with DepEd standards,” adds Belisario.

Yoyong Villegas, an active member since the start of Bantay Eskwela, states that “Wala man akong pera, binigay ko ang oras ko sa Bantay Eskwela. Hindi kasi puwede na iasa natin lahat sa gobyerno kasi nga, kulang sila. Kulang sa pera,kulang sa tao. So, kailangan magtulungan talaga siya,” [Even if I don’t have money, I give my time to Bantay Eskwela. We can’t count on government to do everything. It doesn’t have enough money or people. We have to help,] when he was asked about his experience in monitoring the procurement and delivery armchairs. He deems the partnership between stakeholders and DepEd as vital in helping each other achieve this goal.

Region XI DepEd Regional Director, Ms. Susana Estigoy for her part said, “I am strongly endorsing the Diaspora for Good Governance as a partner of the schools divisions in promoting transparency in transactions.”

The Bantay Eskwela Kick Off expects to draw around 250 community volunteer-stakeholders from 185 schools in Davao City, Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Compostela Valley.

Bantay Eskwela aims to assist DepEd in monitoring contractor performance in fulfilling its contract agreement.  Aside from infrastructure monitoring of school buildings, it also monitors delivery of school furniture and ensures that deliveries are made at the right time, the right quantity and the right quality based on DepEd specifications.

DepEd, Pru Life UK teach kids proper money handling

(PRESS RELEASE)

“Money does not grow on trees. It has to be earned before it can be saved, spent, or donated.”

This is a timeless advice which the Department of Education and private life insurance company, Pru Life UK, will soon introduce among Filipino school children aged 7 to 12 under the Cha-Ching Money-Smart Kids program.

Cha-Ching (derived from the sound of a money box or cash register) Money Smart Kids is the first fully integrated, multi-country, multi-platform learning module that helps parents build money-smart values for children across seven countries in Asia. It introduces four money management skills to kids – earning, saving, smart spending, and donating – using an edutainment approach that provides opportunities to begin practicing these values at an early age.

It will be piloted in Upper Bicutan Elementary School in Taguig City and in Tagaytay Elementary School in Tagaytay City and will initially run for two years. It is a corporate social philanthropy project of Pru Life UK enrolled under the Adopt-a-School Program of DepEd.

The agreement was signed by Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC and Pru Life UK president and CEO Antonio Manuel De Rosas.

Luistro said it is very important that children understand the value of money and how it is earned to have a better appreciation of this resource. “If a child appreciates at an early age that it takes hard work to earn money to buy things, save, or even share with others, he will have a valuable lesson which he can use through life,” explained Luistro.

“According to research, the average age in which Filipino kids start saving money is seven years old. About 98% of Filipino parents believe their children should learn money management skills, and only 19% think their children have adequate money management skills. These are some of the issues that Cha-Ching hopes to address. An effective financial literacy program should start from childhood,” said De Rosas.

Using fun, interesting, and catchy tools, the four core money management concepts will be explained to school children using a Cha-Ching Money-Smart Kids kit that includes a lesson plan, training for teachers, cartoon musical edutainment episodes in DVD plus work books and other school items.

The money management lessons are expected to be incorporated either in Math or Values Education subjects of Grade 2 students starting school year 2012-2013.

Cha-Ching Money Smart Kids is part of Pru Life UK’s Financial Literacy for the Youth Program. It is an off-shoot of the Cha-Ching musical edutainment series that was launched in seven Asian countries by Prudential Corporation Asia (PCA), Pru Life UK’s Hong Kong-based regional headquarters, in September last year. Cha-Ching was created in coordination with Dr. Alice Wilder, a renowned children’s education specialist and Cartoon Network, the region’s number one channel for kids.

DepEd: Palaro promotes values formation among athletes

(PRESS RELEASE)

For the past 63 years, Palarong Pambansa has produced notable athletes in different fields of sports. The road to their success, however, was paved not only by victories but also by defeats and humbling obstacles. As such, the Palaro has served as a training ground for opportunities and challenges.

Being an annual multi-level national scholastic athletic competition conducted by the Department of Education, this year’s Palaro carries the same principle which highlights the significance of values formation among young athletes.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC emphasizes, “The Palaro aims to instill among pupils and students the values inherent in sports such as discipline, teamwork, excellence, fair play, solidarity, and sportsmanship.”

He adds that more than being a sports event, Palarong Pambansa depicts the crucial role of sports in inculcating a sense of well-roundedness among the Filipino youth.

DepEd recognizes the importance of sports in developing the youth’s great potentials to become globally competitive citizens.  Thus, the Department puts premium on the Palaro as a venue to showcase the talents of future world class athletes.

The 2012 Palaro will be held on May 6-12 in the province of Pangasinan. More than 10,000 athletes from both public and private elementary and secondary schools are expected to compete in various sports events. With these competitions, participants will not only hone their skills in sports but also learn that success is just as important as failure.

“Sports activities and competitions develop one’s character in handling victories and defeats which will serve as a critical training ground for the opportunities and challenges that will come his/her way,” added Luistro.

DepEd convenes officials for a more organized 2012 Palaro

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education announces the organizational structure of the 2012 Palarong Pambansa to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual national sporting event from May 6-12 in Pangasinan where more than 10,000 athletes and officials are expected to participate.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC will act as the Chairman of the Palarong Pambansa Board. The National Executive Committee and the Technical Management and Administration (TMA), composed of DepEd officials and regional directors are chaired by Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera and Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, respectively.

Aside from maintaining the organized and systematic flow of events at the Palaro, TMA committees are expected to observe “no alcohol, no smoking, and no gambling” policies during the event. Luistro emphasizes, “Since we are aiming for a clean and green Palaro, sports officials should set a trend through leading by example.”

This is in line with the pursuit of a clean and green Palaro as pronounced by Luistro during the signing of agreement between the department and the provincial government of Pangasinan, this year’s host.

The 2012 Palarong Pambansa will be held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC), Lingayen, Pangasinan. Elementary and high school student athletes from both public and private schools all over the country will be competing in different sporting events.

Registration of all members of the TMA shall be on May 2 while the required refresher course for all officiating officials will be on May 3-4.

The organizational structure of the 2012 Palarong Pambansa is contained in DepEd Memorandum No. 61, s. 2012.